The benefits of weight loss are seemingly endless. Those with a healthy body weight are less likely to die a heart attack or suffer a stroke. They have overall lower blood pressure and are at a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease. However, according to a new study there’s a new benefit to add to the list: improved memory.

"We've known for a long time that obesity is a risk factor for things like Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and more recent work really shows that obesity is a link to memory problems and concentration problems before that even begins," said John Gunstad, an assistant professor of psychology at Kent State University. "If excess weight causes these problems, can losing weight help reverse them? That's what we wanted to research."